DEFENSE officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez said Philippines and the United States should focus on four areas to “modernize” their defense alliance amid “significant challenges” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Galvez made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon (US time) in Washington where he discussed with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ways to further enhance cooperation of the two defense establishments.
The meeting took place a day after the two defense officials, along with US Secretary of the State Antony Blinken and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, met during the US-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue also in Washington.
“To modernize our alliance we need to focus on separate areas. Number one is that we need a common understanding of our policies and priorities. That’s why we will be having our defense guidelines (and) upgrade our equipment to sustain our militaries’ capability to respond to threats,” said Galvez.
Galvez said the two sides should also enhance cyber defenses “to protect our critical infrastructure and sensitive information.”
The third area, Galvez said, is the “need to increase intelligence sharing and cooperation” and “respond to the challenges.”
“Fourth, we must improve interoperability between our forces to better coordinate and conduct joint activities,” Galvez also said.
Galvez cited the importance of the defense cooperation between the two countries “especially at this time when significant challenges are becoming increasing complex and evolving” in the region.
“Our defense alliance is critical in assuring the safety and security of our citizens, and we continue to work together to enhance our capabilities to meet the current and future security challenges, including disasters,” said Galvez.
Austin said the meeting is a “historic moment for our lives,” noting that the two sides have been taking “critical steps together to deepen our ties and strengthen peace and stability in the region.”
“Now those principles have faced growing challenges lately. We’ve seen a troubling increase in coercion and dangerous operational behavior, including in the South China Sea. And we remain deeply committed to our alliance obligations,” said Austin.
Austin was referring to the US commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty which requires both nations to respond to any armed attack in the metropolitan territory of either parties or on the island territories or on armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.
Austin said they have made “rapid strides” to “modernize our alliance.”
“And we’re close to finalizing a security sector assistance road map that charts a path forward to strengthen deterrence and align our defense investments with the evolving security environment,” he said.
He also cited the expanded cooperation under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) “which will make our armed forces more flexible and more resilient.”
Malacañang last week identified four additional EDCA sites where the US can preposition troops and assets to respond to various threats. These are the Naval Base Camilo Osias and the Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan, Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Isabela, and Balabac Island in Palawan.
Earlier agreed on sites under the 2014 EDCA were the Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.
